Dear Loved Ones,
Another week has flown by! This past week was filled with a road trip to Rayong with the Calls, more house inspections, a patriarchal blessing, welcoming a new Senior Missionary Couple (the Masons), and getting ready for transfer week which includes a lot of hellos and goodbyes!
I will get right to the pictures!
But first, as always, we want you to know how much we love you and miss you! And we thank you for your love, prayers, and support!
Love,
Elder and Sister Brady (mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, John and Shelly, and so on)
Last Friday, John was working hard in the office and he needed a snack. I was upstairs in our apartment, so I sent him a picture of our snack bowl. I bet you want to know what snack he selected!
He didn't want any of those snacks, so I went to 7-11 to find him just the right thing. I did not purchase the Bird's Nest drinks for him! But I am excited to buy one for when Katrina and family come into town! I want them to taste this yummy delicacy! Haha! (If you don't remember, we tasted it last year and it is made from bird spit!!!!! We did not know that when we tasted it!! And if Katrina does not read this blog . . . she won't know either!! hahahaha)
I saw this poster on our walk along the klong Friday evening. I am not exactly sure WHAT this is advertising. I would be interested in the OJ and the Som Tam.
Saturday, we headed down to Rayong with the Calls. Our first stop was in Chonburi where we did a house inspection. This Elder's desk was so neat and orderly, we had to take a picture!
Their bathroom was spotless too! We were so impressed!!
The amazing Elders who did such a great job cleaning are Elder Cypers and Elder DeLange! And of course, you can see the Bradys and the Calls!
This is another Elder's lunch (I won't say whose). Yes folks, that is a double Big Mac!!!
And it was delicious!
Water was spraying everywhere as cars drove by us!
Fortunately, the rain stopped by the time we got to Rayong. We changed into our hiking clothes and headed to the National Park. Here we are on the Songthaew getting a ride from the parking lot to the beginning of the hike.
Monkeys on the trail!
John and I pose for a picture with Ko Samet Island in the background.
A cute little lizard on the trail.
Khao Laem Ya National Park! Such a pretty view!
Beautiful Coastline.
This is our second time visiting this park.
Do you see John up on the cliff?
We came here once with the missionaries and now with the Calls.
Elder and Sister Call went to the Star Night Market across from our hotel. I told them how you could find fried insects at the market!
Elder Call decided to sample them!
He ate them!!!!
He said they tasted pretty good. He did have a leg stuck in his throat for a while.
This is more my speed! Morning breakfast at the hotel.
Sunday morning church at the hotel! We had a record number of people in Rayong this Sunday! 42 people! It was so exciting!
Aujima joined the church a little over a year ago and has just submitted her mission papers!
Elder and Sister Brady - smile!
We love these too beautiful ladies!
They are not members of the church, but they come to church and all of the Rayong activities.
They love to help the missionaries share their love of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen!
All the missionaries gather with the two men who are getting baptized. President and Sister Kanyaphan along with the Bradys and the Calls and Elders Richards and Casinillo and Sisters Jasper and Zabala!
Many of the members of the Rayong Branch gather for the baptism.
Missionaries with our two newest members.
Hugs.
Joy.
Elders Richards and Casinillo baptized. Sister Zabala (up on the rocks) was one of the witnesses.
This is possibly the best Massaman Curry we have ever eaten!!!
Sister Brooks will be training our new missionary, Sister Hanks!
Me, Mary Grace, and Sister Call.
Monday, our new senior couple was arriving.
Sister Call and I put together a little gift basket to welcome them to Thailand.
But first, Elder Brady and I had to do one last house inspection for the transfer, so we hopped on the train to head out to Bangkapi. This was the view from one of the stations where we transferred trains.
The Bangkapi Elders Lewis and Hiltscher did a nice job on their cleaning!
And so we headed to Pepper Lunch for lunch! Yum!!!
And then we got to eat out again for dinner! Here we are with the Kanyaphans, the Calls, and the new senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Mason.
You can't see us very well, but the temple looks so pretty.
This is a better view. We took this picture to send to our friend, Jerry Hinton. Apparently Doug Mason went to high school with Jerry and Dawn and they were all good friends.
Tuesday morning we were working away in the office when visitors showed up! Elder and Sister Ellis used to serve here in Thailand. She was the mission nurse and he was over visas and immigration. We miss them. They are currently on another mission, serving in the Philippines. They came to Thailand to go to the temple with some of the members they are working with.
The Masons brought us chocolate! I haven't seen one of these since the Belnaps relatives brought some to Thailand they kindly shared some with us! These are GOLD! We also got some butterfingers and Reese's. I am beyond happy!
The only picture I took on Wednesday! I was texting with our daughter Rikki and she sent me a picture of where she was, so we sent her a picture of where we were!
Thursday morning in the office! The Masons came into say goodbye. After three days of getting a little training, resting from jetlag, they hopped in a car and drove 3 hours to Korat with no practice driving on the wrong side of the road!! They made it safe and sound! Whew!
Thursday afternoon, Elder Onarse from the Philippines got his patriarchal blessing. He has been in Thailand for 6 months now serving in the West Mission.
It's transfer day! These sweet sisters stopped by to say hello! We are sad that Sister Furlan is leaving Bangkok, but happy Sister Polsan will still be here!
We went downstairs to the first floor to deliver some printed blessings and we ran into some of our departing Elders! This is Elder Huber! We loved getting to know him when he was an AP in Bangkok.
Elder Elliott! He was also an AP in Bangkok! We can't believe these Elders are leaving!
Look who we ran into! Kaitlyn! She leaves Thailand in a week, so we are going to have to have one more movie night with her!
Elder Fife is like a grandson to us! I can't believe he is leaving! He served in Rayong for around 5 months! We loved serving with him in that sweet little branch. He is heading back to Beijing. His family leaves Beijing just before Katrina and family will get there.
Elder Boonsripisal! Another great missionary we got to know in Bangkok!
And this is Elder Bridge. Five great Elders left us. When I saw Elder Bridge, I nearly burst into tears!
We are going to miss all of these missionaries so much!
Friday morning, I gathered the fruit and juice and took it up to the mission home. Elder Brady was out picking up Pantangko and the Calls were picking up the Moo Bing.
Breakfast in the mission home! Sisters Merritt, Hank, Brunt, Brooks, Polsan, and Malquist!
Ten new missionaries arrived today! Seven are going to the West Mission and three are coming to us in the East Mission.
Elder Huber is throwing away his old mission shoes! I love how worn out they are!
Elder Brady takes pictures of the new missionaries so we can send a letter and a picture to their parents letting them know that they have safely arrived in Thailand.
The sun was so bright, I could not open my eyes!! We love sister Brooks!
Well, it is nearly Friday evening, and I am calling it a day!
We are officially down to our LAST FOUR transfers!!!
Thanks for reading!
We love you!
Goodbye!
